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Tag: Ondo 2024

  • INEC sounds strong warning to officials for Edo, Ondo elections

    INEC sounds strong warning to officials for Edo, Ondo elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  has warned its personnel against unethical and corrupt practices in the upcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu gave the warning on Monday  in Abuja at a  lecture in honour of late Abubakar Momoh, former Director-General of the Electoral Institute (TEI), from August 2013 to May 2017.

    Yakubu, represented by the National Commissioner, and Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, warned that any unethical practice before, during and after those elections would  incur severe punishments under the law.

    The theme of the lecture was:  “Achieving Professionalism among Election Personnel through Effective Training in Preparation for the Edo and Ondo Governorship Elections.’’

    Yakubu said the success of any election largely depended on the professionalism and competence of those responsible for conducting it.

    He advised electoral officers to be guided by the following principles of integrity, impartiality, transparency, professionalism, gender and disability sensitive.

    He said it was important for electoral personnel to be knowledgeable, skilled and well-equipped with relevant competencies to handle the complexities and challenges of the electoral process.

    “Moreover, the crucial role election personnel play in upholding the integrity of our democratic processes cannot be overstressed.

    “The manner, in which they discharge their duties and responsibilities, affects the degree of confidence voters will have in the electoral process which will impact on their participation and turn out,’’ he said.

    Yakubu said that to ensure credibility and trustworthiness in elections and build trust among the electorate, INEC had always prioritised the professional development of its election personnel.

    He said the commission identified effective and efficient electoral training as the key to unlocking professionalism among election personnel.

    “The commission’s involvement in effective training programmes has empowered its staff to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, in order to strengthen our processes and procedures to serve the interests of all Nigerians,’’ he said.

    He said that through training, INEC was able to deepen electoral knowledge and strengthen the skills and competences of personnel over time.

    The TEI Director-General, Dr Sa’ad Idris in his remarks, said that INEC in pursuit of its mission and vision had prioritised professionalism toward achieving free, credible, transparent and inclusive elections.

    “As we prepare for the 2024 Edo and Ondo  off cycle governorship elections, the commission is assured that the outcome of effective training of Election personnel will manifest in the high level of professionalism.

  • Ondo 2024: Edema emerges as NNPP governorship candidate

    Ondo 2024: Edema emerges as NNPP governorship candidate

    Mr Olugbenga Edema, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ondo State, on Wednesday, was announced as the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the Nov. 16 governorship poll.

    Mr Israel Ayeni, who won the party’s primary on April 26, voluntarily withdrew, paving way for his substitution with Edema.

    At the substitution primary held on Wednesday, Edema, the sole candidate of the election, was affirmed by a voice vote by the 180 delegates across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    The Chairman of the 2024 NNPP  Electoral Committee, Mr Ayeni Aladelusi, who announced Edema as the party’s candidate, said that there was a constitutional provision for substitution within a stipulated period.

    Aladelusi explained that following the withdrawal of Isreal Ayeni, the members resolved to substitute him with Edema, a tested politician and administrator, to fly the party’s flag.

    Also speaking, Ayeni said that he withdrew his interest in the governorship race in the interest of the party.

    In his acceptance speech, Edema thanked the  God for giving him the opportunity to present himself  to serve the people of the state.

    He also appreciated the National Chairman, members of the National Working Committee, State Working Committee of NNPP and delegates for their support and confidence reposed in him.

    “I offer myself as your candidate and standard bearer for the Ondo State gubernatorial election coming up on the 16th November 2024.

    “I accept the challenge, I accept the mandate freely and willingly granted to me today, and I promise not to ever look back,” he said.

    Edema further said that the manifesto of the party aligned with his vision as encapsulated in the ‘Igbega Ondo’ manifesto.

    The governorship candidate, who was one of the 16 aspirants that jostled for the April 20 governorship primary of the APC, stated that his vision was set on the “consolidation and sustainability lane for total development of the state.”

    Edema, who decried the conduct and process of the APC primary poll in April, said that internal democracy was well rooted in the NNPP.

    According to him, the purported primary election conducted by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on April 20 lacked internal democracy.

    “This act of impunity should not be supported and be allowed to continue in our polity. It is trite that you cannot give what you do not have.

    “And as the saying goes “a house built with spittle will certainly collapse under the early morning dew”.

    “The demise of APC is just around the corner like its sister, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from which it took over the reign of power.

    “It is on this note that I hereby formally announce my resignation from APC forthwith.

    “I hereby pitch my tent with the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), a truly progressive and people-oriented party,” Edema said.

    He subsequently nominated Dr Rotimi Adeyemi as his running mate in the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.

  • Ondo 2024: Jimoh Ibrahim withdraws suit challenging outcome of APC primary

    Ondo 2024: Jimoh Ibrahim withdraws suit challenging outcome of APC primary

    Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim has withdrawn the suit filed challenging the emergence of Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Nov. 16 governorship election in Ondo state.

    Co-defendants in the suit seeking nullification of the party’s governorship primary conducted in the state on April 20 are APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) .

    It would be recalled that the senator had after the conduct of the party’s governorship primary held on April 20, alleged irregularities and no election in the 18 local government areas of  the state.

    At a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Ibrahim attributed withdrawal of the suit to series of interventions made by President Bola Tinubu on phone and physical meeting held with him at the Villa.

    He said that the litigation was not about him, but for the sole purpose of ensuring internal party democracy, which he said was lacking in the APC governorship primary election.

    Ibrahim said : ” The suit is now withdrawn due to the intervention of President  Tinubu.

    “The President called me, had a meeting with me, and assured me that he will, as the leader of the party,  improve on internal democracy within our party.

    “And that I will need to withdraw the case to enable him to chart a way forward.

    “The governor earlier visited my Asokoro residence for several hours after an unsuccessful visit to my hotel room in Akure.

    ” I cannot disobey the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because the issue am fighting for is not personal.

    “It is simply to improve internal democracy to which the President has promised improvement. My respect for the President is absolute!.”

    He thanked Tinubu for his  words of wisdom and  encouragement during their meeting and for  emphasising his commitment to internal democracy over and over again.

    “The withdrawal of this legendary suit  coincides with the first anniversary of the  President’s incredible performance in office, and this is my gift of the “cake” of the first anniversary,” Ibrahim said.

  • APC ward executives deny suspending Jimoh Ibrahim

    APC ward executives deny suspending Jimoh Ibrahim

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Igbotako Ward II in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, has disowned the purported suspension of Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim, representing Ondo South in the National Assembly being circulated on social media.

    Chairman of APC in the ward, Mr Adetokunbo Omotola, stated this in an interview on Wednesday in Okitipupa.

    Omotola said that rather than the purported suspension, the party’s ward executives had passed a vote of confidence in Ibrahim.

    He said that APC in the ward was also standing by the senator in his pursuit of justice on the last governorship primary.

    “As the Chairman of APC in Igbotako ward II, Sen. Ibrahim is still a bona fide member of our party and we stand firm by him to get justice on the last governorship primary.

    “No fewer than 25 ward executives have passed vote of confidence in Ibrahim. Therefore, any other letter being circulated as suspending Ibrahim is null and void,” Omotola said.

    Meanwhile, Ibrahim’s aide, Mr Banji Okunomo, in an interview with NAN, described the purported suspension as mere drama, laced with politics.

    According to him, the purported suspension of the senator is a fluke.

    “We are not aware of the suspension letter signed by unknown ward executives but only heard that a vote of confidence has passed in Ibrahim,” Okunomo said.

    In the two documents circulating on the social media, the suspension letter was signed by 16 ward executives, while the vote of confidence letter was signed by 25 ward executives.

    The crisis within the party was not unconnected with the case filled by Ibrahim before an Abuja High Court challenging the April 20 governorship primary which produced Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the candidate for the Nov. 16 governirship poll.

  • Jimoh Ibrahim heads to court over Ondo governorship primaries

    Jimoh Ibrahim heads to court over Ondo governorship primaries

    Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim, one of the aspirants for the April 24 Ondo governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says he is heading to court to challenge the outcome of the election.

    Ibrahim said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He alleged that the election was marred by irregularities, saying that it was manipulated to favour the winner.

    Ibrahim described the election as a massive electoral fraud that should not be allowed to stand in the interest of internal party democracy.

    He alleged that the election was manipulated in all wards and Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the state.

    “INEC report on the election showed that election did not hold in 159 out of 203 wards and 15 out of 18 LGAs in the state,” he said.

    Ibrahim said that his litigation was initiated within the time frame prescribed by relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and would be sustained up to the Supreme Court.

    “Two clear prayers are being sought for in the court as far as Ondo APC governorship primary election is concerned.

    “The two prayers are (i), that the sham carried out on Saturday, April 20th 2024 , should be cancelled for fresh one to be conducted and (ii) , for delisting of APC from Ballot in the Nov. 2024 Gubernatorial Election in Ondo State,“ he said.

    Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had emerged winner of the election, after scoring 48,569 votes to beat other aspirants in the race.

  • Guber primaries: Ondo APC dismisses claims of no election

    Guber primaries: Ondo APC dismisses claims of no election

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has dismissed claims  that the recently concluded gubernatorial primary election did not hold in the state.

    The party described the report as shocking and lacking in credibility.

    In a statement on Monday in Akure, the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Alex Kalejaye, said the report was misleading.

    “For the records, election took place in all the 18 local government areas of the state.

    “There were agitations in Ifedore and Ilaje Local Government areas while the results in the entire Ifedore Local Government area were cancelled.

    “That of Ilaje affected about four wards and the results there were also cancelled.

    “The essence of such cancellations was to emphasise the validity of the entire process, and lend credence to fairness.

    “The voting strength of our members in the affected areas were not substantial enough to dent the credibility of the process, nor affect the margin with which the candidate emerged.”

    He stated that the party, therefore, doubted  the authenticity of the claims.

    According to him, the party  cautions against needless desperation on the part of some members of the party  who have vowed to do everything possible to discredit the process.

    It  urged the party’s  supporters to discountenance the spurious claims and focus on the bigger task ahead: to win the governorship election and retain the party for APC  come Nov. 16.

  • Ondo guber: We will not underrate any opponent – Aiyedatiwa

    Ondo guber: We will not underrate any opponent – Aiyedatiwa

    Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo  says his party,  the All Progressives Congress (APC), will not underrate any candidate from other political parties in  the  state’s Nov. 16 governorship election.

    Aiyedatiwa stated this on Sunday at a gathering to celebrate his victory at the APC primaries, organised by a group, ‘Friends of Lucky’, in Akure.

    Aiyedatiwa, who said victory belonged  to the people of Ondo state, appreciated the leaders of the party for their support, as well as the organisers of the event.

    “Once again, I appreciate all my supporters. You all went a long way for me, initiated things, spreading the message for my support  across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    “However, it is not over yet. This is just the first phase. There’s still more land to conquer; there’s still a great battle ahead. The primary election was just an in-house contest and now we head to the main battle,” he said.

    The Chairman, Organising Committee of the event, Mrs Bukola Tenabe, said the event was to honour the governor on his resounding victory at the APC primary election held on April 20, and also to appreciate his supporters.

    In his goodwill message, the Deputy State Chairman of the APC, Chief Atili Adaba, congratulated the governor on his victory, describing it as well deserved.

    He commended the organisers of the event for their efforts in making it a success.

    The Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, who represented the Speaker,   Olamide Oladiji, stated that Aiyedatiwa remained  a product of grace.

    He added that the house would continue to support the governor for the progress of the state.

    Speaking on behalf of the State Executive Council, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Adewale Akinlosotu, noted that the governor deserved to be celebrated.

    Akinlosotu added that APC was  one big family, urging everyone to come together so that the party would be successful at the Nov.16 gubernatorial election.

    Dr Abiola Oshodi, who spoke on behalf of APC Canada, also congratulated the governor on his victory, saying: “I am sure that the people of Ondo state will definitely vote for you come Nov.  16”.

    A former speaker of the state’s assembly and Chairman of SUBEB, Victor Olabimtan, said the governor was a product of mercy and that APC would  record unprecedented success in the election.

  • Omolere emerges AA candidate for Ondo guber election

    Omolere emerges AA candidate for Ondo guber election

    Mr Akinuli Omolere has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) Party for the Nov. 16 Ondo state governorship polls.

    Mr James Vernimbe, the Party’s Chairman of the Primary Election Committee, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    He said that the election was monitored by observers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party supporters in the state.

    “Total number of delegates at the primary election was 90, total number of accredited delegates, 73, total votes cast 73, total number of valid votes 73, total number of invalid votes Nil, mode of election Option A4.

    “Akinuli Fred Omolere emerged winner with 45 votes against Adeyemi O. Adetunji, Festus Oke Olusegun and Duke Oyinbeinyefa who scored 16, 7 and 5 votes respectively, ” he said.

    Vernimbe commended the conduct of the other aspirants and their agents and urged them to support the party’s candidates to emerge victorious at the guber poll.

    He also expressed optimism in the ability of the candidate to triumph at the polls.

  • Oyebolu emerges as SDP candidate for Ondo governorship poll

    Oyebolu emerges as SDP candidate for Ondo governorship poll

    Dr Segun Oyebolu, has won the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ticket for the Nov. 16 Ondo State governorship election.

    Mr Joseph Achille Abu, the Chairman of the party’s governorship primary election committee, stated this at the end of the primary election in Ondo on Saturday.
    Achille said that Oyebolu scored 53 out of the 64 votes at the primaries to emerge winner.

    He said that 64 delegates drawn from the 18 Local Government Aeas (LGA) of the state participated at the primaries.

    He expressed satisfaction with the turnout of party delegates across the state, saying that the turnout was impressive and showed the party’s readiness to conquer the state at the election.

    “SDP is determined to win the Nov.16 governorship election in Ondo State.

    “Our party is the only party that can rescue Ondo State from being a civil servant state to an industrial state,” he said.

    In his acceptance speech, Oyebolu appreciated the party delegates for the confidence reposed in him.

    “I promise to build a formidable campaign team that will dislodge the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) led government in the state, and build a new Ondo State.

    “And I am also assuring our party’s leaders and people of the state that our administration will bring back the good old days of the state, if elected as governor,” he said.

  • Akinmurele emerges as YPP candidate for Ondo governorship election

    Akinmurele emerges as YPP candidate for Ondo governorship election

    Mr John Akinmurele, has emerged as the candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) for the Ondo State Nov. 16 governorship election.

    Akinmurele was elected unopposed by 89 out of 90 delegates at the indirect primaries on Saturday in Akure.

    Earlier, Mr Williams Moses, the Chairman of the State primary election committee, said that it was a new dawn in the state as new blood was being injected into the party for an all- round development.

    “So, Akinmurele is hereby declared  winner having satisfied the law governing the election and the party,” Moses said.

    In his acceptance speech, Akinmurele, who appreciated the delegates for the support that led to his unopposed victory, said that the task ahead was enormous.

    Akinmurele said that he believed that the party would be victorious in the November governorship election.

    “With my emergence as the flag bearer of our dear party, I promise to ensure good governance in the state, if elected.

    “And, if elected as the governor of Ondo State, I will prioritise the welfare of the people and enhance the economic prospects of the state,” he said.

    Also, Mr Dotun Ojon, State Chairman of YPP, said that the mandate of the party was to give maximum opportunity, develop the people and the society.

    “We are presenting the party and candidate to the people of the state, as he has the capacity to develop the state if voted and elected as governor in the Nov.16 election,” he said.